Five quick takes: Rest for ‘Big Three’ bigger than any streak

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili all presumably were safely tucked away in their homes back in San Antonio Monday night, watching the action of their team on their big-screen televisions.

None of the Spurs’ “Big Three” were anywhere near the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Their teammates attempted to stretch their 11-game winning streak using bench players in key roles they typically don’t have with the team.

And it worked for much of the game, before a late collapse enabled the hungry Jazz to escape with a 91-84 victory to keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive.

Gregg Popovich made the decision before leaving San Antonio Sunday night to rest his “Big Three” with an arduous upcoming schedule featuring games against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, Memphis on Thursday and Phoenix on Saturday.

The Spurs had their chances with a 75-67 lead with 8:49 left. But they couldn’t find an answer for Devin Harris who accounted for 12 points including two critical transition 3-pointers to fuel a closing 24-9 spurt that boosted them to the comeback victory.

“Another three there and we would have been dangerous,” Popovich told reporters after the game about his bench’s play. “I was really proud of them. I couldn’t have asked for any more from them. The big difference in the game, like a lot of NBA games down the stretch is you have to make shots.

“Devin came down and knocked two down in a row in transition and at the other end we couldn’t throw it in the ocean. Game time.”

After seeing his team crumble heading into the playoffs last season after Ginobili’s broken arm late in the season, Popovich clearly has decided he wants to do what he can to preserve the health for his key players.

Oklahoma City took a one-game lead over the Spurs after their victory and San Antonio’s loss. But in the grand scheme, Popovich remains confident his team can beat the Thunder in a seven-game playoff series even without homecourt advantage.

History is with him. The Spurs won the NBA title in 2005 as the No. 2 seed in the West and the 2007 championship as a No. 3 seed.

Winning the top seed would be something that Popovich wouldn’t turn down. But he’s not going to wear out his key players trying to nail down the top berth.

It’s the right decision, considering the key veterans and their previous playoff success. A night of rest in early April will likely pay dividends in late May or early June.

Here are four quick takes about the second time this season Popovich unsuccessfully attempted to stretch an 11-game winning streak with a substitute-heavy starting lineup with Parker, Duncan and Ginobili out of the lineup.

The Spurs media corps spent some time Sunday night after the Spurs’ victory in San Antonio discussing how far Parker has come since the 2006 playoffs when he struggled in a matchup with Harris, who then played for Dallas. In the Mavericks’ seven-game series victory that year, Harris played well against Parker and appeared to be coming into his own. Parker’s personal growth has escalated, as was evident in how easily he toyed with Harris with a 26-point effort in the Spurs’ victory Sunday night. Harris still has his moments and showed why in the fourth quarter Monday night against the Spurs’ other point guards. His clutch play was the difference down the stretch, but whether he could have done it against Parker is debatable.

Wonder how big a homecourt advantage is in the NBA? Consider these numbers, offered without editorial judgment. In Sunday’s game in San Antonio, the Spurs went 38 of 43 from the foul line, compared to Utah’s 16 of 26. In the game the following night, the Spurs went 7 of 10, Utah was 25 of 33. In the pivotal fourth quarter, Utah went 11 for 14 and the Spurs were 2 for 3. Harris alone had six foul shots in the fourth quarter, more than the five shots the Spurs had as a team in the second half.

The Spurs really struggled down the stretch because they didn’t have a player who could consistently make a basket in the roles that Parker, Ginobili and Duncan usually fill. Gary Neal hit a couple of big shots, but couldn’t be counted to do it every time. The lack of balance was crushing in the final four minutes of the game when the Spurs needed a basket to keep up with Harris.

Tyrone Corbin has done a nice job with Utah this year, considering his team was as banged-up with injuries as the Spurs were limited Monday night. Starters Josh Howard and Raja Bell have been out of the lineup for extended periods. And C.J. Miles and Earl Watson both were out with injuries suffered against the Spurs Sunday night. The Jazz likely don’t have enough firepower to make the playoffs in the stacked Western Conference, but it won’t be because of the lack of Corbin’s coaching.